tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75758547268832101032024-03-05T18:37:10.666-05:00South Carolina AHEC News & UpdatesSouth Carolina AHEChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08172949515533028431noreply@blogger.comBlogger302125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-46537659763415696362023-09-22T13:50:00.005-04:002023-09-22T14:52:24.565-04:00SC AHEC Scholars: Preparing the Next Generation of Primary Care Providers<h1 style="padding: 56.25% 0px 0px; position: relative; text-align: left;"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" frameborder="0" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/847401169?h=94a8bb29a3&badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479" style="height: 100%; left: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; width: 100%;" title="South Carolina AHEC Scholars"></iframe></h1><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script><div><br /></div><div>Hannah Robinson, MD knew she wanted to pursue a career in healthcare from a young age. </div><div><br /></div><div>“I’ve always wanted to be a doctor since about the sixth grade,” said Dr. Robinson. “I remember being in health class and watching the Miracle of Life video and just being fascinated with women and their ability to create and bear life.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Prior to attending medical school, Dr. Robinson spent time working on the obstetrics unit at her local hospital in Rock Hill and observed a trend with their patients.</div><div><br /></div><div>“What I noticed was a lot of the families that we serviced actually weren’t from Rock Hill. We also served surrounding counties that were really rural and seeing how these families were traveling to Rock Hill to deliver their babies was really shocking to me,” said Robinson. </div><div><br /></div><div>Due to a maldistribution of OB/GYNs in the state of South Carolina, individuals may have to travel great distances just to receive the care they need. In its most recent <a href="https://www.scahec.net/scohw/reports/136" target="_blank">South Carolina Health Professions Data Book</a> published in 2021, the SC Office for Healthcare Workforce reported that of South Carolina’s 46 counties, there were 14 counties without a practicing OB/GYN and five counties with only one.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now a recent graduate from the Medical University of South Carolina’s (MUSC's) College of Medicine, Dr. Robinson intends to return to rural South Carolina after completing residency to help improve access to healthcare for those who need it most and, in turn, meeting a critical need for maternal and women’s healthcare in our state.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Developing Leaders in Interprofessional, Transformative Practice</h3><div>An attending physician introduced Dr. Robinson to the South Carolina AHEC Scholars program while in medical school at MUSC and she immediately identified with the program’s mission of preparing students across the state to become leaders in primary care for rural and undeserved communities. Part of a national initiative to prepare tomorrow’s health professionals, the AHEC Scholars program focuses on developing health professions students for interprofessional primary care practice. Dr. Robinson enrolled in the AHEC Scholars program and completed it concurrently with her graduation from medical school. </div><div><br /></div><div>The AHEC Scholars program supports students for at least two years while they are in their health professions education program and offers supplemental learning and training opportunities in interprofessional practice, behavioral health integration, social determinants of health, cultural competency, practice transformation and more. Other components of the program include training opportunities via team-based clinical fieldwork placements, stipends available to assist with travel expenses to rural clinical sites, networking with leaders and providers statewide, and access to AHEC coordinators who guide and mentor students through the program.</div><div><br /></div><div>South Carolina’s AHEC Scholars program is open to health professions students of a variety of specialties, including dental, medicine, nurse practitioner, occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), physician assistant (PA), pharmacy, and social work. For more information about student eligibility, visit the <a href="https://www.scahec.net/ahecscholars.html" target="_blank">South Carolina AHEC Scholars webpage</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Vyoma Barodia, a fellow AHEC Scholar who recently graduated from MUSC’s PA program, found the variety of current topics that the AHEC Scholars learning modules covered very interesting, including opioid use, suicide prevention, cultural humility and how to have end-of-life care discussions.</div><div><br /></div><div>“Even things like Medicaid and how reimbursement works was very important,” said Barodia. “I learned all of these topics through the virtual classes you can take through AHEC Scholars.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Barodia’s favorite part of the program was getting the opportunity to work with other health professionals and students across different disciplines in simulations.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAm-uF8Bb4jnhX_ve1Y5zNje3bz-TrShAK_FUUknXRj7D5h2rgTKuQ7Y_qhQB7t5SA8eCgfw70HIV3kqGH0Mu7sNHM6LEMFpbQkQyVnnDQD-LmwYqvzIZxO2mHhTLPc-dtTckwAe7mk8qNwBdaiQGN8Alh_q_nLrSOkPO-h69n0el4aCyl-VxtgJ3CzA/s4032/IMG_5798%5B12%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pee Dee AHEC Scholars and other health professions students participate in a simulation." border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjAm-uF8Bb4jnhX_ve1Y5zNje3bz-TrShAK_FUUknXRj7D5h2rgTKuQ7Y_qhQB7t5SA8eCgfw70HIV3kqGH0Mu7sNHM6LEMFpbQkQyVnnDQD-LmwYqvzIZxO2mHhTLPc-dtTckwAe7mk8qNwBdaiQGN8Alh_q_nLrSOkPO-h69n0el4aCyl-VxtgJ3CzA/w640-h480/IMG_5798%5B12%5D.jpg" title="Pee Dee AHEC Scholars and other health professions students participate in a simulation." width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: small;">Pee Dee AHEC Scholars and other health professions students pose for the camera during a simulation.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><div><br /></div><div>“There was particularly a high-fidelity simulation that I participated in and being a PA student, I was responsible for asking this patient, who was played by a robot, on why they were brought in,” said Barodia. “Then we actually tried to come up with the diagnosis to better help them, and besides that, to also come up with the resources to better help serve this underserved patient that I had.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Barodia was able to draw upon her own clinical experiences, and those from the interprofessional team of OT, PT, dietary, and medical students involved in the simulation to brainstorm a solution for care going forward as a team.</div><div><br /></div><div>“I didn’t think of certain things that OT and PT were thinking about and, holistically, I thought we were able to provide the best care that we could,” said Barodia. “That was very enriching.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Dr. Robinson shared similar experiences as Barodia, participating in a simulation as a provider and debriefing with students of other specialties afterwards. In one specific training while serving a patient who revealed they had asthma, a nursing student walked Dr. Robinson through the asthma protocol. </div><div><br /></div><div>“It was just eye-opening to me that each of these specific professions have these different and specific things that they learn that is just informative for us all to learn. And so, I definitely went home and learned that protocol because as a provider, even if I’m an obstetrician gynecology resident, I’m going to have a patient with asthma, and I should know how to help manage that.”</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Transforming Primary Care and Improving Patient Care</h3><div>As the first member of his family to pursue medicine as a career, University of South Carolina – Columbia third-year medical student Andrew Westfall thought the opportunity to network with healthcare providers and leaders in South Carolina as well as peers and even younger students has been a great benefit of the AHEC Scholars program.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>“I was able to speak with a couple of high school students at one of the events that AHEC offered and to me that was very exciting because I didn’t really have anybody when I was going into medical school to talk with and who was able to tell me things to do. I figured it out on my own,” said Westfall. “To be able to work with other students that want to go into medicine and be able to help educate them as to the steps they need to take and what goals to set for themselves – that was very rewarding and I very much enjoyed that.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Westfall has seen firsthand the impact providers can have on their patients, having helped support and care for both his grandmother and mother while they faced health issues. His passion for people was ultimately what drove him to pursue a career in healthcare.</div><div><br /></div><div>“I wanted to be able to make that difference and be there for people that were in that kind of situation,” said Westfall. “And I think it’s important to be able to spend time with your patients and appreciate them because sometimes they just need someone to talk to and be able to be there for them.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Jasmine Fox-Bookhardt, a recent graduate of the MUSC PA program, shared similar sentiments as Westfall regarding the importance of relatability in patient care. Growing up in rural South Carolina, she personally understands the value of shared life experiences in fostering a strong connection between patients and healthcare providers. </div><div><br /></div><div>“I grew up in Reevesville, South Carolina – I am the product of a rural area,” said Fox-Bookhardt. “I just feel more relatable that I am from a rural area as well, so I can really know what [the patients] are talking about. It makes it more personable to your patient to build that relationship and trust because they see that I’m from where you’re from.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Fox-Bookhardt is prepping to take her national board certification exam and then plans to remain in rural South Carolina to practice in family medicine. She recommends the AHEC Scholars program to all interested health professions students, regardless of what specialty or focus they’d like to pursue later.</div><div><br /></div><div>“Even if you don’t want to go into rural medicine or a medically underserved area – it’s still really good to have that background because you’re going to meet people from any and everywhere, and you want to be able to relate to them and understand the social determinants of health and why they may be struggling, why they may not be compliant on medications,” said Fox-Bookhardt. “I feel like [the AHEC Scholars Program] will give you at least that background, so you won’t feel so lost with your patient.”</div></div><div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Tracking Program Outcomes</h3><div>The AHEC Scholars program was rolled out nationally as an update to the federal AHEC program requirements from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in 2017. In 2022, SC AHEC marked the conclusion of the first program cycle with the graduation of the fourth cohort of SC AHEC Scholars.</div><div><br /></div><div>During the first four cohorts, the 180 scholars from nine educational institutions in South Carolina completed the SC AHEC Scholars program, accruing 38,886 hours of experiential and 10,514 hours of didactic training.</div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BAE3wKhsyYBlKCOl9RqPmvHXJSjMKJY42oFr7X5obnpbfai4WLZSUQiE6xQEZtpWMlXb941UTEh2UZQKfIKDoFn3BO748dmpSKSoDdeHG01ooU5teC8Wki7bmkaW_3Di6jglaKRmtCLRg-P25N-BkT5MTZ0eJhppQScGO0K7mky7_WDptiqjgzgCyUM/s1061/Screenshot%202023-09-12%20at%209.57.09%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A chart showing the breakdown of the 180 SC AHEC Scholars in the first four cohorts by disciplines: Pharmacy (53), Physician Assistant (39), Social Work - MSW (25), Nurse Practitioner (22), Medicine - MD (18), Medicine - DO (13), Occupational Therapy (6), Dental (3) and Physical Therapy (1). During the first four cohorts, the SC AHEC Scholars Program had nine educational institutions represented and completed 38,886 hours of experiential training and 10,514 hours of didactic training." border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="1061" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BAE3wKhsyYBlKCOl9RqPmvHXJSjMKJY42oFr7X5obnpbfai4WLZSUQiE6xQEZtpWMlXb941UTEh2UZQKfIKDoFn3BO748dmpSKSoDdeHG01ooU5teC8Wki7bmkaW_3Di6jglaKRmtCLRg-P25N-BkT5MTZ0eJhppQScGO0K7mky7_WDptiqjgzgCyUM/w640-h254/Screenshot%202023-09-12%20at%209.57.09%20AM.png" title="Visual breakdown of first four cohorts of SC AHEC Scholars." width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Breakdown of first four cohorts of SC AHEC Scholars found in the <a href="https://www.scahec.net/docs/2022-sc-ahec-annual-report.pdf" target="_blank">2022 South Carolina AHEC Annual Report.</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div>Of 24 students from the first two cohorts of SC AHEC Scholars who responded to a survey about where they were practicing/training more than one year out from graduation, 79% reported they were practicing/training in a primary care setting and 38% were practicing/training in a rural and/or medically underserved area (57% response rate).</div><h3 style="text-align: left;">About the Program</h3><div>Applications for the South Carolina AHEC Scholars program are accepted on an ongoing basis. More information about the program is available on the <a href="https://www.scahec.net/ahecscholars.html" target="_blank">South Carolina AHEC Scholars webpage</a>, as well on the <a href="https://www.scahec.net/docs/AHEC-Scholars-Flyer.pdf" target="_blank">flyer (PDF)</a> or in the <a href="https://www.scahec.net/docs/AHEC-Scholars-Handbook.pdf" target="_blank">South Carolina AHEC Scholars Handbook (PDF)</a>.</div></div>South Carolina AHEChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08172949515533028431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-3072912474156676762023-09-22T13:47:00.004-04:002023-09-22T14:17:44.512-04:00Lowcountry AHEC’s Strong Partnerships Serve School Nurses Statewide<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For over three decades, Lowcountry AHEC has been proud to support school nurses across South Carolina in their professional development through statewide conferences and meetings. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and in-person events came to a halt, Lowcountry AHEC along with their partners, were able to pivot to alternate methods to continue providing training opportunities for school nurses.</div><p></p><p>One such way Lowcountry AHEC was able to adapt was implementing online modules so that school nurses could continue to receive the same professional development and learning opportunities in a virtual setting. <a href="http://news.scahec.net/2021/02/lowcountry-ahec-helps-school-nurse.html" target="_blank">The first course, <i>Foundations of School Nursing</i>, included nine modules and was uploaded to the South Carolina AHEC Learning Portal (ALP) by August 2020</a>. With over 1,600 registrations to this day, Foundations of School Nursing is the most popular course currently on ALP.</p><p>“We began to do some work with them on online modules,” said Lowcountry AHEC Center Director Diane Mathews. “All new school nurses were asked to complete the course. This fulfilled a need to orient new school nurses at a time when no one could travel and sit in a classroom.”</p><p>Then in 2022, the South Carolina Association of School Nurses (SCASN) received a subaward from the SC Department of Education’s Office of Health and Nutrition. This financial support, which originated from COVID Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, allowed Lowcountry AHEC to collaboratively provide an update to the <a href="https://www.scahec.net/learn/programs/cpd/2805" target="_blank"><i>Foundations of Nursing</i></a> modules, introduce three new courses in the AHEC Learning Portal (<a href="https://www.scahec.net/learn/programs/cpd/2852" target="_blank"><i>Three R’s of Concussion Management</i></a>, <a href="https://www.scahec.net/learn/programs/cpd/3335" target="_blank"><i>Body Systems 1</i></a> and the upcoming <i>Body Systems 2</i>) and put on a live, experiential <i>Poverty Simulation Training</i> earlier this month.</p><p>The strength of Lowcountry AHEC’s partnerships was paramount to their successful switch to online learning and instruction. “It is important to partner with SCASN, the State School Nurse Consultant and her team to be sure that school nurses in all counties and districts have the same, high-quality professional development so that all students have school nurses that are up to date on the latest information,” said Mathews. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVDYZCdBC56vbCTcgZaFtybtNT8rHgn-aRNdX3UYyz9N5u7lpmCzDSXl6TaFVQ4ILHxBjhK0pz-XgYwWckkU4nyzPOf2IkCgMfG42Q2LVYhBOEBj1GG9dk2GcUffow3EPM2EooVA_8dg73sIBoLzElOHoa89NcOef3Smtyzah1z_j-l_mnu6d1pvzMQI/s854/LC%20School%20Nurse%20Collaboration.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Partners and organizers of the annual School Nurse Summer Conference gather for a group photo." border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="854" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVDYZCdBC56vbCTcgZaFtybtNT8rHgn-aRNdX3UYyz9N5u7lpmCzDSXl6TaFVQ4ILHxBjhK0pz-XgYwWckkU4nyzPOf2IkCgMfG42Q2LVYhBOEBj1GG9dk2GcUffow3EPM2EooVA_8dg73sIBoLzElOHoa89NcOef3Smtyzah1z_j-l_mnu6d1pvzMQI/w640-h640/LC%20School%20Nurse%20Collaboration.jpg" title="Partners and organizers of the annual School Nurse Summer Conference gather for a group photo." width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pictured: Partners and organizers of the 2023 School Nurse Summer Conference.</span></div><p>In addition to the modules on the AHEC Learning Portal and live trainings, SCASN’s subaward also helped fund the 21st annual School Nurse Summer Conference held earlier this year. The two-day conference, themed “Riding the Wave of Resiliency,” was held at the Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center in June and had over 160 attendees, making it the largest event the partnership has hosted since the onset of the pandemic.</p><p>Lowcountry AHEC Continuing Professional Development Coordinator Jasmine Douglas was closely involved with the planning and organization of the conference. </p><p>“This being our first big conference since the pandemic and based on a needs assessment [our partners] conducted, the group was able to gather up some topics and plan what would be of interest to nurses around the state,” said Douglas.</p><p>Keynote sessions for the conference included topics such as sleep disorders in the school-aged population and legal issues and documentation best practices for school nurses. Other breakout sessions featured presentations on self-regulation, inclusion care and support for diverse students, e-cigarettes and vaping prevention and pediatric orthopedic conditions.</p><p>Douglas is aware that sometimes the only health care students get may be from their school nurse. Helping provide a space for school nurses to share their experiences with and learn from each other is critical. “I’m happy we’re able to be involved in these conferences and hope we can cater to their needs, give them some relief and make them feel supported.”</p><p>Lowcountry AHEC looks forward to continue working with partners such as SCASN, the SC Department of Education and the State School Nurse Consultant to provide the support and resources school nurses need to better serve the students across the state of South Carolina.</p><p>To view and register for any of the school nurse modules previously mentioned, visit the <a href="https://www.scahec.net/learn/" target="_blank">AHEC Learning Portal</a>. For more information about Lowcountry AHEC’s programming, visit their webpage at <a href="http://www.lcahec.com">www.lcahec.com</a>.</p>South Carolina AHEChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08172949515533028431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-75665422216012944392023-09-22T12:48:00.004-04:002023-09-22T14:25:01.697-04:00Mid-Carolina AHEC Meets Local Workforce Need<p>After discussions with multiple community partners, Mid-Carolina AHEC established a Nurse Aide Training Program in 2018 aimed at assisting regional healthcare facilities with their hiring and retention needs.</p><p>The Nurse Aide Training Program is designed to provide individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform basic care services for patients (in an acute care setting) or residents (in a long-term care setting). All classes and clinical rotations are held nearby to reduce travel for participants and Mid-Carolina AHEC works directly with both a regional rural hospital and a long-term care facility to provide training that supports facility staffing schedules.</p><p>“Initially the goal was to provide the training locally, because at that time, the closest facility was about 30 miles away,” said Rebecca Jackson, a Continuing Professional Development Coordinator at Mid-Carolina AHEC. “This is a six-week course and by the end, participants are eligible to sit for their certification exam to become a certified nursing assistant, or CNA.”</p><p>CNA positions are in high demand across the country and the profession is considered low barrier to entry – once an individual completes training and passes the certification exam, they are eligible to work immediately. For many, this certification serves as a launching pad to pursue further healthcare careers.</p><p>By 2019, the local long-term care facility had began offering scholarships for the program, identifying existing staff working in other departments and hiring promising high school students to work as nurse helpers until they completed the training program and could transition into the role of CNAs.</p><p>Following several years of program expansion, the COVID-19 pandemic put the Nurse Aide Training Program on pause. In response to increased demand for CNAs and a shortage of certified personnel during the pandemic, the federal government temporarily suspended the certification requirement in a move aimed to remove hiring obstacles and enable healthcare facilities to hire TNAs (temporary nurse assistants) without the need for them to complete the usual qualifying exam.</p><p>This created an issue when the certification waiver was discontinued in the fall of 2022, causing a wave of TNAs hired during the pandemic to suddenly be at risk to losing their job.</p><p>“Once everything started opening back up, they had a certain deadline to get all of these nursing assistants certified or they were going to have to be let go,” said Jackson. “We stepped in and got them through and certified by the deadline so they could keep their jobs.”</p><p>Mid-Carolina AHEC worked directly with White Oak Manor, a local long-term facility in Lancaster, to put their TNAs through the Nurse Aide Training Program in the fall of 2022. By holding the course locally, the TNAs were able to continue working while obtaining certification.</p><p>“That’s what it’s really about,” said Jackson. “It’s being a part of the community and seeing the need that our local community has and just trying to help.”</p><p>As of 2023, Mid-Carolina AHEC is working with multiple partners in the region to continue growing and enhancing the Nurse Aide Training Program. Partners include the MUSC Health Medical Centers in Chester and Lancaster who identified qualified candidates and provided scholarships for the program, as well as the University of South Carolina Lancaster regional campus who offered the program to potential nursing students this past spring. Additionally, the Lancaster Housing Authority enrolled several individuals currently residing in public housing for the May 2023 program, with the intention of supporting them in obtaining certification and launching a career, thereby aiding them to transition away from public housing assistance.</p><p>“Over time the program has developed and evolved and now I would say the goal is still to provide this training locally, but also as a stepping stone to other careers in healthcare,” said Jackson. “It’s a good starting place to really get some of these individuals and students where they need to be.”</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqp1N-S8RFQ6Z9GN7K6KQELB-U5n-WAJvaAm-CL2azZDRYt16tur2ChzPqOB28Tp0w8Ej6jKNyNM1wGeNP7EOIt2LUeEwwxqvq0KgMT5XLt7qXRapTeerv0cgL1Kl7XQrcSeNONaONlzdAPVHBrlbVvzDHPldpRmT851RcBThHsvI5SN-aL01SgQjTFQ/s13824/MC%20NAO%20Poster%20Draft%20(48%20%C3%97%2036%20in).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="10368" data-original-width="13824" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqp1N-S8RFQ6Z9GN7K6KQELB-U5n-WAJvaAm-CL2azZDRYt16tur2ChzPqOB28Tp0w8Ej6jKNyNM1wGeNP7EOIt2LUeEwwxqvq0KgMT5XLt7qXRapTeerv0cgL1Kl7XQrcSeNONaONlzdAPVHBrlbVvzDHPldpRmT851RcBThHsvI5SN-aL01SgQjTFQ/w640-h480/MC%20NAO%20Poster%20Draft%20(48%20%C3%97%2036%20in).png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pictured: The poster presentation presented by Mid-Carolina AHEC staff members on the Nurse Aide Training program at the 2023 NAO Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.</span></p><p>Mid-Carolina AHEC offers the Nurse Aide Training Program several times a year. More information about the program and upcoming classes can be found on their webpage at <a href="http://www.midcarolinaahec.org">www.midcarolinaahec.org</a>.</p>South Carolina AHEChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08172949515533028431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-91312003535175175932023-09-22T12:42:00.007-04:002023-09-22T14:47:59.798-04:00South Carolina AHEC Receives Funding to Establish Dedicated Nursing Workforce Unit within the SC Office for Healthcare Workforce<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLt8RkoVo2TKX3jjykPa8fmj_36bWcbUM_B7Pu-A7cEEh5BaS78OI8JH9xBh1t3JloHnbVyn56dMBypx1UKbjU6CIK_PnmavN0EiTyKY-1bGco1DC13NJ_3vNkG4SEdZx6-QGj-Xv2w-enEnnSnm9wxv4JiS78-veGLc12evT6J917dsCrQ-S93OzDxA/s3864/nursing%20unit%20rack%20card%20image.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2576" data-original-width="3864" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLt8RkoVo2TKX3jjykPa8fmj_36bWcbUM_B7Pu-A7cEEh5BaS78OI8JH9xBh1t3JloHnbVyn56dMBypx1UKbjU6CIK_PnmavN0EiTyKY-1bGco1DC13NJ_3vNkG4SEdZx6-QGj-Xv2w-enEnnSnm9wxv4JiS78-veGLc12evT6J917dsCrQ-S93OzDxA/w320-h213/nursing%20unit%20rack%20card%20image.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">South Carolina AHEC received a $500,000 increase in recurring state funds for the 2023-2024 state budget to establish a dedicated nursing workforce unit as part of the South Carolina Office for Healthcare Workforce (SCOHW), a division of South Carolina AHEC. </div><div><br /></div><div>With 58,318 actively practicing registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, and licensed practical nurses in South Carolina as of 2020, the nurse workforce is the largest licensed health profession in the state, more than four times larger than the next biggest licensed health profession. Because of the size, complexity, and importance of the nursing workforce – a linchpin of the healthcare system – the new research unit will study the particular issues that affect the balance of supply and demand for nurses in South Carolina. </div><div><br /></div><div>However, SCOHW will not be embarking on this work alone. The research unit will work with nursing education programs, nurse employers, practicing nurses, community partners and other stakeholders to conduct comprehensive analysis and disseminate objective, reliable information to support planning and policy decisions.</div><div><br /></div><div>“Nursing shortages are cyclical, and COVID-19 accelerated some of the supply and distribution issues we’re now seeing,” said Katie Gaul, Director of the SC Office for Healthcare Workforce. “It will take more than just educating more nurses, which is hard to do, when, for instance, you don’t have enough faculty and clinical instructors. With better data and information, and with help from our many partners, we can better plan for future needs and hopefully smooth the shortage cycle to ensure that our population has the quality nursing care it needs in the future.”</div><div><br /></div><div>South Carolina AHEC is grateful to the legislature for supporting this important work so stakeholders across the state will have the data and information needed to make strategic decisions about our state’s healthcare workforce. SC AHEC’s increase in state funding also included increases in recurring funds to support rural clinical health professions student training enhancement and an increase in funding for the Rural Dentist Loan Repayment Program to fund more community dentists to practice in rural and underserved areas of the state.</div><div><br /></div><div>To view all the latest reports and publications from the SC Office for Healthcare Workforce as well as request data or more information, visit <a href="http://www.scahec.net/scohw">www.scahec.net/scohw</a>. </div> South Carolina AHEChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08172949515533028431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-30862618647553305422023-09-22T12:39:00.002-04:002023-09-22T12:48:53.085-04:00Medical Mentors: Pee Dee AHEC Connects Students to Clinical Experiences<p>Pee Dee AHEC has partnered with Francis Marion University to collaborate on a Medical Mentors program, connecting undergraduate biology students with practicing medical professionals to gain real-life experiences in the field.</p><p>Health Careers Program Coordinator Subira Smalls serves as the Pee Dee AHEC point of contact for the program and has been involved since its inception.</p><p>“The goal is to introduce undergraduate college students to clinical experiences,” said Smalls. “We want them to step into the world of healthcare, by shadowing physicians, nurses and other professionals, and give them a firsthand look at the day-to-day realities of medicine.”</p><p>Students in the program are given the opportunity to shadow a variety of healthcare professionals at McLeod Health Regional Medical Center, including physicians, physician assistants (PAs), nurses and other disciplines. Experiences students have been able to witness include surgical procedures like hip replacements, the insertion of vascular stents and lung perfusions.</p><p>“It’s really, really neat to be able to help students rule things out too,” said Smalls. “You know, they might find some of the procedures they get to shadow exceptional, but someone else with the same experience might say this isn’t really for me. It’s nice to be able to help them get these experiences early and select what they’re interested in to avoid wasting time and money later in their education and career if it’s not for them.”</p><p>Offered to sophomores, juniors and seniors enrolled at Francis Marion University as a biology course for credit, the Medical Mentors program has grown and adapted in each of the three semesters it has been offered since spring 2022.</p><p>“Initially we had only two students participating and then it grew to 12 in the fall of 2022,” said Smalls. “However, we realized a smaller group allowed for more meaningful interactions, so we scaled it back to eight for our last semester. Eight students seems comfortable for the group and we want them to be able to have and build relationships with the professionals they’re meeting.”</p><p>The course spans a semester and students typically gain their shadowing hours on Monday afternoons, with the option to schedule additional visits later in the week if their schedules allow for it. Program participants can also choose to count their hours towards their observation shadow hours that are required if they apply to medical or PA school.</p><p>The Medical Mentors program is a collaboration housed under Pee Dee AHEC’s Health Career Program, which works to increase the number of underrepresented minority and disadvantaged high school and college students pursuing a career in health professions across the state. More information about Pee Dee AHEC’s programming can be found on their webpage at <a href="http://www.peedeeahec.net">www.peedeeahec.net</a>.</p>South Carolina AHEChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08172949515533028431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-10578852082704689172023-09-22T12:34:00.003-04:002023-09-22T12:48:41.131-04:00Anderson University and AnMed Collaborate for Pre-Med Boot Camp<div>Anderson University hosted its second annual Pre-Med Boot Camp this year in May and Upstate AHEC was proud to support it as a sponsor. The two-week, intensive workshop is structured to prepare students for the expectations and application process of medical school and is led by physicians from AnMed and faculty members from Anderson University’s College of Health Professions and College of Arts and Sciences.</div><div><br /></div><div>The program is offered at no cost to participants and is designed for those who may not have the flexibility to participate in other extended, summer-long programs already offered around the state. The goal is to provide medical experiences to students from smaller colleges who may not typically have access to such opportunities which are often more readily available at larger universities.</div><div><br /></div><div>Experiences offered at the Pre-Med Boot Camp include shadowing opportunities with AnMed medical professionals across many disciplines, hands-on workshops, interview practice, MCAT preparation and discussion panels with physicians, current medical students and representatives from the admissions committees from the four South Carolina medical schools. Upstate AHEC staff members were also able to present information to the students regarding resources and programs offered in the Upstate region and across the SC AHEC system. To read more about student experiences at the Pre-Med Boot Camp, check out Anderson University’s <a href="https://andersonuniversity.edu/news/au-anmed-team-pre-med-boot-camp" target="_blank">news article on the event</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>“The students who attend our boot camp express their gratitude for this unique opportunity to explore medicine,” said Dr. Stoney Abercrombie, MUSC AnMed Campus Dean. “Many feel that this camp has solidified their commitment to attending medical school. That is the essence of what this boot camp was created for.”</div><div><br /></div><div>The idea for the boot camp initially came from discussions between Dr. Abercrombie and Dr. Carrie Koenigstein, Associate Dean of Anderson University College of Arts and Sciences, on how to better prepare students for medical school. The two collaborated to offer a 50-hour course that fall semester to AU students that exposed them to shadowing, medical workshops and the opportunity to interact with AnMed Family Medicine residents. They saw an increased number of AU students applying and being accepted to medical schools as a result and began looking into how to expand the workshop to offer a similar opportunity to students at other colleges and universities located around the Upstate. Thus, the partnership between Anderson University and AnMed for a two-week summer learning experience was born.</div><div><br /></div><div>“In 2022, we held the inaugural Pre-Med Boot Camp with 18 students from seven area colleges,” said Dr. Abercrombie. “With the financial support from Upstate AHEC, we were able to expand the 2023 camp to 24 students from nine area colleges.”</div><div><br /></div><div>Schools represented amongst the 2023 Pre-Med Boot Camp attendees included: Anderson University, Bob Jones University, Clemson University, Converse College, Erskine College, Newberry College, Presbyterian College, Winthrop University and the University of South Carolina.</div><div><br /></div><div>Applications for the 2024 Pre-Med Boot Camp close on January 15, 2024. For more information and to apply, visit Anderson University’s <a href="https://www2.andersonuniversity.edu/anmed-pre-med-boot-camp/" target="_blank">AnMed Pre-Med Boot Camp webpage</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>For all the latest on Upstate AHEC’s upcoming programming and events, visit <a href="http://www.upstateahec.org" target="_blank">www.upstateahec.org</a>. </div>South Carolina AHEChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08172949515533028431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-17683105609034535292023-09-22T12:32:00.005-04:002023-09-22T12:41:30.954-04:0034th Annual South Carolina Family Medicine Interest Day Held in AugustMedical students had the opportunity to network with 15 of the state’s family medicine residency program faculty members and their residents at the 2023 South Carolina Family Medicine Interest Day, held on Saturday, August 26 in Columbia. Hosted annually by South Carolina AHEC in partnership with the South Carolina Academy of Family Physicians (SCAFP) and the state’s family medicine residency programs, the event is open to second- through fourth-year students from medical schools across the southeast and is designed to promote the specialty of family medicine as a career option.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO91Svd5xCAOj96hQuDcOC5_go5myf7yfFADeJBZ-3Hsdi_92UTbVvElmkL9_ejfX0h9qzhuxo-Dv7CAzdkrkivMgXsh-5fsdzyWdtt-HqPUIzwRQt7v3k4aE1li81lGt7rrxnC4WsMJhmMap0G8TTCFGDoAXTIyj6J6_AqLprQR496Wf6M5xISeTM8GM/s2048/IMG_7989-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Medical students participate in a Splinting & Casting Workshop at Family Medicine Interest Day." border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO91Svd5xCAOj96hQuDcOC5_go5myf7yfFADeJBZ-3Hsdi_92UTbVvElmkL9_ejfX0h9qzhuxo-Dv7CAzdkrkivMgXsh-5fsdzyWdtt-HqPUIzwRQt7v3k4aE1li81lGt7rrxnC4WsMJhmMap0G8TTCFGDoAXTIyj6J6_AqLprQR496Wf6M5xISeTM8GM/w640-h480/IMG_7989-3.jpg" title="Medical students participate in a Splinting & Casting Workshop at Family Medicine Interest Day." width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The day’s events were offered at no cost to medical students and included a welcome luncheon, networking sessions and skills workshops hosted by the family medicine residency programs. Workshop topics included casting and splinting, point of care ultrasound and scopes, central line placement, joint injections, acupuncture, dermatology procedures and many more.<br /><br />77 students from 15 medical schools registered for Family Medicine Interest Day and were able to select which workshops they wished to attend based on personal preference. Students were able to network and build relationships with the state’s family medicine residency programs at exhibit booths in the breaks between workshop sessions.<br /><br />To learn more about South Carolina’s family medicine residency programs, visit <a href="http://www.scahec.net/gme">www.scahec.net/gme</a>. </div>South Carolina AHEChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08172949515533028431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-58792970078334147442021-06-21T11:53:00.007-04:002021-06-21T11:55:31.858-04:00Honoring Julie Ghent’s Legacy<p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyM_uR3VymYf9aP46tOP9jh-QNAvBIJponuPBGU7Pz31_lrij5F5c0zwda3EOQcLtyoYRy2VvpOSEvo4mrQlDG7wnn9BDrnaCnZ4FkEfUJ9QYkX_Uz0Ka3f1cJTsUeqOGlP8TsrMldWtc/s520/Julie+Bridge+Dedication.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Julie's family and team members from Mid-Carolina pose for a photo next to the plaque" border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyM_uR3VymYf9aP46tOP9jh-QNAvBIJponuPBGU7Pz31_lrij5F5c0zwda3EOQcLtyoYRy2VvpOSEvo4mrQlDG7wnn9BDrnaCnZ4FkEfUJ9QYkX_Uz0Ka3f1cJTsUeqOGlP8TsrMldWtc/w295-h320/Julie+Bridge+Dedication.jpg" width="295" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">The Mid-Carolina AHEC team and members of Julie Ghent’s family were extremely touched when the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine--Carolinas Campus (VCOM) recently honored the late Mid-Carolina AHEC Health Professions Student Coordinator during their annual awards ceremony for third and fourth year medical students and preceptors. Julie passed away due to complications from COVID-19 in January. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Dr. Matthew Cannon, Dean for the VCOM Carolinas Campus, and other faculty members recognized Julie’s tremendous contributions to the training of medical students in our state. They dedicated a bridge on campus in her honor, with a plaque that reads:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b>"Julie was a “bridge” for many students who navigated from the classroom to clinical rotations in Lancaster, South Carolina. This bridge was not made of wood, but love and compassion for each student that crossed her path. Julie, a selfless student advocate, represented all that is great about our mission and the care we will give to our patients."</b></i></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Julie’s husband, Joe Ghent, also presented scholarship gifts to two VCOM students who Julie had supported on rotations and who happened to care for Julie while she was fighting COVID in the hospital. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">VCOM also hung a plaque in Clinical Affairs “in loving memory of a devoted leader in medical education, who touched the lives of countless 3rd & 4th year students. She made everlasting memories through her admirable character, her impeccable integrity, and her love for all those around her. Her servant’s heart and empathetic care exemplifies her compassion that others strive to emulate.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The entire South Carolina AHEC System would like to thank VCOM for their remembrance of Julie and their recognition of her steadfast dedication to her students. She is greatly missed in the South Carolina AHEC family and beyond.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Mid-Carolina AHEC and Joe Ghent are working with VCOM to establish the Rural Matters Julie W. Ghent Scholarship fund. If you are interested in participating in this legacy honoring Julie’s memory and work, please contact Mid-Carolina AHEC Center Director Cheri Plyler at <a href="mailto:cplyler@comporium.net">cplyler@comporium.net</a>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7tQ4RAtPC-g_puJl5_vnZUyrrICqqbS0KoKS0No0ntEGonyyJadpDUfZwzRog_8woIPaV9Vpe9Z77Gxi-y0KHhW2Xq9_RSboUxoZJR1WFo-Mplw4gAHeOilY3JnqFx0eG07bdIY2XqE/s2508/Julie+Ghent.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Like so many others in our families, communities, and across the nation, this pandemic has been a time of separation and loss. Today we share sad news of a loss within our AHEC family: Julie Ghent, Health Professions Student Coordinator at Mid-Carolina AHEC. Julie passed away at the end of January due to complications from COVID-19. Her obituary details a life lived in service to others and love for those around her. While soft spoken, Julie carried a fierce heart for the mission of AHEC and a dedication to the experiences and support of her students. She was loved by her family, community, and all of those who she worked with across the state. The loss of Julie is felt by many and she will be in our hearts and memories. Please join us as we honor Julie as well as the many others who have been lost during this pandemic." border="0" data-original-height="1254" data-original-width="2508" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7tQ4RAtPC-g_puJl5_vnZUyrrICqqbS0KoKS0No0ntEGonyyJadpDUfZwzRog_8woIPaV9Vpe9Z77Gxi-y0KHhW2Xq9_RSboUxoZJR1WFo-Mplw4gAHeOilY3JnqFx0eG07bdIY2XqE/w640-h320/Julie+Ghent.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>South Carolina AHEChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08172949515533028431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-5465377489845591072021-02-09T17:54:00.002-05:002021-02-19T14:32:46.569-05:00Lowcountry AHEC Helps School Nurse Orientation Pivot Online during Pandemic<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGdy7hvFUngZ3IA-EUYANTegDEJ7R79jnWgeLkn5hhXoNIDw2ovFNc8peOrWOkcl55fxSALQKga_ECjVgoyindidZ6qmXiwF3ax4VhLFIp6H1Dd4iLQa33k30Ge16NfAzkaldHA7f3PPc/s1680/LC+CPD.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Screen grab from virtual presentation and interactive activity used to help complete training." border="0" data-original-height="1680" data-original-width="1466" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGdy7hvFUngZ3IA-EUYANTegDEJ7R79jnWgeLkn5hhXoNIDw2ovFNc8peOrWOkcl55fxSALQKga_ECjVgoyindidZ6qmXiwF3ax4VhLFIp6H1Dd4iLQa33k30Ge16NfAzkaldHA7f3PPc/w278-h320/LC+CPD.png" width="278" /></a></div><br />For many years, orientation for school nurses in South Carolina has been an in-person event; however, due to COVID-19, this orientation, like so many other in-person events, was cancelled this past year. Yet the need to orient South Carolina's school nurses remains critical. Recognizing this need, a team consisting of Lowcountry AHEC staff, South Carolina Association of School Nurse President Dawn MacAdams and South Carolina Department of Education State School Nurse Consultant Vicky Ladd developed a plan to deliver the orientation as an online, self-paced course. The instructors supported the format change, working to convert their in-person sessions to online content, and Lowcountry AHEC will provide nursing credit for the series over the next two years. The orientation went live in the fall of 2020 and is available at no cost to South Carolina school nurses on the new and improved South Carolina AHEC Learning Portal.<p></p><p>To find out more and register, visit the Foundations of School Nursing course <a href="https://www.scahec.net/learn/programs/cpd/2805" target="_blank">on the AHEC Learning Portal.</a></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-29213994909987334902021-02-09T17:53:00.001-05:002021-02-09T17:53:03.326-05:00Mid-Carolina AHEC Webinars Enable Participants to Join from a Variety of Settings<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinw4EtS35W1rB_4ULp8-idXYeFZwour3Ly6SPsX4eHDaGHoJLVDPlor8nixsU2rBel6Cc7w0lHZ8MN9ovrowOXIHQpydVxyVtuLrUNtbtZfOw1zBbzu3ZkOWLz7sHhksK2crhZegz1aumJ/s716/MC+AHEC+CPD.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Socially distanced lunch and learn" border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="522" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinw4EtS35W1rB_4ULp8-idXYeFZwour3Ly6SPsX4eHDaGHoJLVDPlor8nixsU2rBel6Cc7w0lHZ8MN9ovrowOXIHQpydVxyVtuLrUNtbtZfOw1zBbzu3ZkOWLz7sHhksK2crhZegz1aumJ/w233-h320/MC+AHEC+CPD.png" width="233" /></a></div>Mid-Carolina AHEC partnered with the Interstate Postgraduate Medical Association (IPMA) to provide a lunch and learn webinar for primary care providers related to pain management strategies for osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain patients. Dr. Lee Thomas, Director of Student Medical Education at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) Lancaster teaching site, at MUSC Lancaster Medical Center presented a live webinar: “Building Pathways in Pain Management.” The presentation utilized a scenario to engage the remote participants and combine the content and clinical application. The virtual format enabled participants to attend from their clinical setting or classroom. <p></p><p>To learn more about Mid-Carolina AHEC continuing professional development programs, <a href="http://www.midcarolinaahec.org/continuing-education" target="_blank">visit the Mid-Carolina AHEC website.</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-73721740669195673852021-02-09T17:51:00.002-05:002021-02-09T17:51:09.644-05:00Pee Dee AHEC Adapts Training Formats During Pandemic<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYef2fJUY0mLwO4BtUjv2pfGc5sWiGgwXsAfNqpLAeTn1EgEjYRjQpAK77XohzvLvY7cZ1PV2SJw2rDecY6p_pk2hJE8vD158Zam3ijnj5HubJzOM6O5rePUeoqfzZDILzzM21m2C2w52/s2008/PD+CPD.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Screen Grab from online training format that reads "Immunity, Vaccination, and COVID-19"" border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="2008" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYef2fJUY0mLwO4BtUjv2pfGc5sWiGgwXsAfNqpLAeTn1EgEjYRjQpAK77XohzvLvY7cZ1PV2SJw2rDecY6p_pk2hJE8vD158Zam3ijnj5HubJzOM6O5rePUeoqfzZDILzzM21m2C2w52/w320-h161/PD+CPD.png" width="320" /></a></div>Pee Dee AHEC’s continuing professional development programs, like so many other organizations, had an unexpected year full of transitions and adaptations to new platforms of training. As a result of COVID-19, Pee Dee AHEC quickly transitioned a large number of previously scheduled in-person programs to live webinars. Using the webinars has enabled Pee Dee AHEC to reach many new health professionals, resulting in many new participants across the state of South Carolina and beyond. For example, Pee Dee AHEC partnered with colleges and universities to allow senior nursing students to attend the “Legal Aspects of Nursing Documentation: How Well Would Your Documentation Hold Up in Court?” to earn 6.5 hours toward their clinical requirements. This partnership has continued to grow and serve as a great resource to nursing students and practicing health professionals as well. Pee Dee AHEC has hosted a variety of new speakers to teach programs to counselors and social workers that provided training on topics related to the pandemic and more, as well collaborated with instructors in physical therapy and occupational therapy to transform an in-person course to a virtual class, enabling them to obtain their continuing education credits safely during the pandemic. One participant summed it up: “Pee Dee AHEC, you have set yourselves apart amid all COVID-19 unknowns – maintaining a high level of training and offering a great number of trainings online. Thank you, Pee Dee AHEC. We have needed you and you have come through with complete excellence.”<p></p><p>To learn more about Pee Dee AHEC’s continuing professional development programs, <a href="https://www.peedeeahec.net/ce.aspx " target="_blank">visit the Pee Dee AHEC website.</a></p><p><br /></p><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-38402618671915147882021-02-09T17:49:00.005-05:002021-02-09T17:49:38.655-05:00Upstate AHEC Leverages Blended Learning Format to Train Health Professionals<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OD1wRzJQS5KueVSziCIgDIGLj8sU9E7_nM1k_DIpKL_rw3CHfhEeEEM70FX-K50emRzk0I2LDcXdkjOGlopQxfg1G7Y_V4Dk1uSPgwylOws02Fs9HBzOwuPQFiXAQ1TNhLnyVq177GdQ/s1232/US-CPD+Image.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Socially distanced skills lab to complete competency training." border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1232" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OD1wRzJQS5KueVSziCIgDIGLj8sU9E7_nM1k_DIpKL_rw3CHfhEeEEM70FX-K50emRzk0I2LDcXdkjOGlopQxfg1G7Y_V4Dk1uSPgwylOws02Fs9HBzOwuPQFiXAQ1TNhLnyVq177GdQ/w320-h174/US-CPD+Image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Upstate AHEC partnered with Lila Doyle Nursing Home, Prisma Health, AnMed Health Rehab, Greenville County Schools, and the Greenville County Detention Center to help train their employees using a blended learning modality. Through this learning format, participants complete an online lecture and post-test via AHECU and then attend an in-person lab to practice their skills and complete their skills competency checkoffs.<p></p><p>Upstate AHEC also works with the outpatient staff of Bon Secours St. Francis in Greenville to complete their medication administration and vital signs training and assessment utilizing the blended learning method. As part of the new hire orientation week, employees view online lecture modules and then attend a vital signs training and lab at Upstate AHEC as well as a medication administration lab. Certified medical assistants, licensed practical nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, radiology technicians, registered nurses, and unlicensed personnel are all able to take advantage of this training opportunity and format. </p><p>To learn more about Upstate AHEC’s continuing professional development programs, <a href="https://store.upstateahec.org/" target="_blank">visit the Upstate AHEC website</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-1976197167595594322021-02-09T17:44:00.006-05:002021-02-09T17:44:52.246-05:00Lowcountry AHEC Supports the Health Professions Pipeline through Work with Local Technical Colleges<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYMy8XzVQk85cFCJuHtTkGr28i-Fqkvn0OCNZD1rad8g-iHYQmN4yTB9qcAlgmz_yBDweq3cV5Bfq7VHMsGcZy44VG7WWkvKNqsmc787ny1Kof5VAlPoU6g0A0HOu68tNiZRj_O6gy-m4/s976/LC+HCP.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Students participating in a blood pressure measurement demonstration" border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="976" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYMy8XzVQk85cFCJuHtTkGr28i-Fqkvn0OCNZD1rad8g-iHYQmN4yTB9qcAlgmz_yBDweq3cV5Bfq7VHMsGcZy44VG7WWkvKNqsmc787ny1Kof5VAlPoU6g0A0HOu68tNiZRj_O6gy-m4/w320-h240/LC+HCP.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><i>Prior to COVID-19</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Lowcountry AHEC’s Health Careers Program (HCP) has had great success with the Bench to Bedside 2.0 Program this past year. The “Career Options for Health Professionals” course at both Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College and Denmark Technical College included a health professional discussion panel and mock skills lab facilitated by Lowcountry AHEC’s HCP coordinator. The event was a great experience on both campuses for local health professionals, college students, high school students and community members to interact with and learn from each other. The 57 participants received an abundance of information from health professionals that they could utilize on their paths to becoming healthcare professionals.<p></p><p>Lowcountry AHEC’s Health Careers Program (HCP) strives to increase the number of students entering the health professions in South Carolina. Programs are designed to develop academically proficient and self-confident future health care professionals. Learn more about their program by <a href="https://lcahec.com/program-information-2/" target="_blank">visiting the Lowcountry AHEC website</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-77576551882790501372021-02-09T17:42:00.006-05:002021-02-09T17:42:44.693-05:00Mid-Carolina AHEC Simulation Activity Allows Students to Step into Nurses’ Shoes<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShIWd-cUHgnaWguk_CgM9OCUNBljq8d-XPdU_no_w96HpoebOBJHGzLxfuLXKeZpwGYFkv95Ot4xK9RB1MDQ5mBRy0brJMRT9Sja3j5PnAMz1ohhsrbkXHspF5pZ7wGX7DIZ7PbqjqS1L/s1082/MC+HCP.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Students gathered in hallway holding signs that say "I love nursing", "#AHEC", "Super Nurse"" border="0" data-original-height="812" data-original-width="1082" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShIWd-cUHgnaWguk_CgM9OCUNBljq8d-XPdU_no_w96HpoebOBJHGzLxfuLXKeZpwGYFkv95Ot4xK9RB1MDQ5mBRy0brJMRT9Sja3j5PnAMz1ohhsrbkXHspF5pZ7wGX7DIZ7PbqjqS1L/w320-h240/MC+HCP.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><i>Prior to COVID-19</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Students in the Mid-Carolina AHEC Health Careers Program were able to participate in an interactive activity that allowed them to act as nurses during a simulation activity. The experience was offered through Mid-Carolina AHEC’s continued partnership with Midlands Technical College: Airport Campus. Chaunta Simmons, RN, an instructor with the college’s Health Sciences Department, developed the experience to provide a way for students to actively learn about the nursing profession. Together with Nursing Department Chair Shirley Bannister, RN, they explained the roles of nurses, provided a brief presentation, and enabled students to perform as nurses by taking care of their simulated patient. Students completed a series of tasks common to the day-to-day nursing practice such as patient assessment, foley catheter management, patient positioning, post-operative management, medication administration and safety all while adorned with personal protective equipment (PPE). <p></p><p>"The presentation and skills lab were very enjoyable. The presenter was very knowledgeable and gave helpful tips about searching for a career,” remarked Tashauna M., HCP student. “We learned how to check a pulse and how to properly roll a pregnant patient on her side! Although the task was difficult, the nursing instructors were extremely helpful." </p><p>Mid-Carolina’s Health Careers Program is a health career exploration experience for high school students that includes sessions and activities to promote academic success, career development and personal growth. Activities demonstrate the use of communication, math, science and other skills as part of a curriculum specifically designed for future health professions students of South Carolina. To learn more about the program, <a href="http://www.midcarolinaahec.org/health-careers-program" target="_blank">visit Mid-Carolina AHEC’s website.</a></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-67942481175151449512021-02-09T17:41:00.004-05:002021-02-09T17:41:36.755-05:00Pee Dee AHEC Continues to Grow Health Careers Program<p><br /></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJH_db5WtPUyEV3vmDog3ltfyJsJvhR4VwYqFHWvJutyt-WnIeY6xWUD52J6D5Uo0DY4Caq50_Fy9M_6ULGcx4JC-6xLs4bZCYvwaqZrMiAPmWjdKO2M8n5KjZhsM37GYpySlbHyVio4-/s2048/PD+HCP.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Students carrying manakin with neck brace and emergency equipment on board" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJH_db5WtPUyEV3vmDog3ltfyJsJvhR4VwYqFHWvJutyt-WnIeY6xWUD52J6D5Uo0DY4Caq50_Fy9M_6ULGcx4JC-6xLs4bZCYvwaqZrMiAPmWjdKO2M8n5KjZhsM37GYpySlbHyVio4-/w320-h240/PD+HCP.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><i>prior to COVID-19</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Pee Dee AHEC’s Health Careers Program (HCP) continues to expand in size, outreach, and community involvement. Within the 12-county region, the Health Careers Program worked and partnered with 31 schools in 14 different districts to co-teach and coordinate work-based learning experiences for 24 health science courses. Pee Dee AHEC also expanded HCP’s outreach efforts by coordinating and partnering with nine career fairs, three post-secondary education programs, seven afterschool clubs, one transition-to-work program, and conducting career talks at two alternative schools and four middle schools. To further serve the greater Pee Dee Region, the Health Careers Program participated in 14 advisory boards and conducted a community outreach service event. Pee Dee AHEC is currently planning to create, coordinate, and instruct “pathway” programs targeted at junior and senior undergraduates and gap year students to better prepare them for graduate school. These programs will offer clinical certifications, research and mentorship opportunities, and observations with residents and seasoned healthcare professionals.<p></p><p>Pee Dee Area Health Education Center (AHEC) offers a variety of activities for students in middle, high, and college who may be pursuing a career in the health professions. To learn more about the program, <a href="https://www.peedeeahec.net/hcp.aspx" target="_blank">visit the Pee Dee AHEC website</a>.</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-50088054387450645912021-02-09T17:31:00.037-05:002021-02-09T17:40:12.143-05:00Upstate AHEC Summer Enrichment Program Students Complete Life Support Training<div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicedgNdOIZn31aSiucJZqjf92HsVMV57f_cH6ZxGU0wWPM8zQrkLNgxX760hysSvXmYeYlQlqByPCuAEpWAjlOnUM1fl3BHYpthNWW4cE4VokR4KAEnJ9UcWCgi4OtWuVkqZZ82XBC-hg/s2048/US-IMG_2928_Stop+the+Bleed.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Students are grouped around a simulation mannikin during the Stop the Bleed training" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicedgNdOIZn31aSiucJZqjf92HsVMV57f_cH6ZxGU0wWPM8zQrkLNgxX760hysSvXmYeYlQlqByPCuAEpWAjlOnUM1fl3BHYpthNWW4cE4VokR4KAEnJ9UcWCgi4OtWuVkqZZ82XBC-hg/w240-h320/US-IMG_2928_Stop+the+Bleed.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><i>prior to COVID-19</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Students in the Upstate AHEC Summer Enrichment Program completed Stop the Bleed Training during a tour of the UofSC School of Medicine Greenville in July of 2019. The training, completed on amputee manikins, simulates a real-life scenario. Stop the Bleed is a national awareness campaign that encourages bystanders to become trained, equipped and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professionals arrive. The students received the training during a two-part life support series, which included Basic Life Support CPR for Healthcare Professionals. </div><p style="text-align: left;">Upstate AHEC’s Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) is designed to allow students to shadow, volunteer, and explore the healthcare environment while completing a checklist of experiential learning experiences in their own time. Students are assisted with finding placements at local healthcare organizations that will allow them to develop their skills, network with professionals, and solidify their interest in pursuing a career in healthcare. To learn more about the program, <a href="https://www.upstateahec.org/health-careers-programs/sep/" target="_blank">visit Upstate AHEC’s website</a>. </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-72723746532308256642020-04-15T12:22:00.001-04:002020-04-15T12:22:52.262-04:00Update: SC AHEC Regional Centers Pivot Continuing Education Programs Online <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9JyanYj2OcJ-Grv_Xrqhv9G3yEW1rZqmwdRVYLyJcRQjmGivBxwPqh4qfgHvPtUEPxN6E6DwkD_fRAQemPOb1DGDcbwAmz-VM89V0Z8hDMcD5RHyXQ_-r9WJmjvoKU589qyIDCgmg_Q/s1600/christina-wocintechchat-com-68c8TlX5dfk-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9JyanYj2OcJ-Grv_Xrqhv9G3yEW1rZqmwdRVYLyJcRQjmGivBxwPqh4qfgHvPtUEPxN6E6DwkD_fRAQemPOb1DGDcbwAmz-VM89V0Z8hDMcD5RHyXQ_-r9WJmjvoKU589qyIDCgmg_Q/s320/christina-wocintechchat-com-68c8TlX5dfk-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We know that even through unprecedented times, health professionals still need continuing professional development to maintain certifications and licensure. To continue to be able to offer education to the professionals in their communities, the regional South Carolina AHEC centers quickly began transitioning scheduled continuing professional development programs from in-person events to webinars. Here are some brief highlights:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lowcountry AHEC worked with longtime instructor Francine Muscarella, LMSW, LCSW, to offer her already scheduled courses <i>The Art of Leading</i> and <i>Are You Running Out of Time?</i> as webinars to professionals statewide. The transition allowed a multidisciplinary group of attendees to still participate in learning opportunities without leaving their homes. “Huge thanks and shout out,” remarked one attendee, “to all those involved to take this from an in-person class to transition it on short notice to a webinar.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk36544357"></a>Likewise, Mid-Carolina AHEC cancelled all in-person educational courses through at least April 30 and transitioned existing programs to online, enduring or webinar format. Specifically, they offered an already scheduled four-part leadership series and a program on the ABC’s of pediatric care as webinars. The programs were also recorded and will be available as on-demand videos for professionals who were not able to attend the webinars.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many people may be feeling more stress during this time. To address that, Pee Dee AHEC hosted a webinar on April 3 about how to manage and cope with stress during the COVID-19 epidemic. Susie Owen, a licensed clinical social worker, provided strategies to adjust to our new “abnormal,” assess the impact of disruptive events, and the do’s and don’ts for coping. Continuing education credit was available but the course provided useful information for health professionals and community members alike and nearly 200 people attended.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Upstate AHEC has also transitioned its in-person programming online. They have worked with frequent partner and presenter Pam Collins to plan a series of short webinars for school nurses. Since many schools are currently closed, the two programs, Legal Issues and Documentation for School Nurses and Professionalism in Nursing, have been a great opportunity for school nurses to obtain necessary continuing professional development. Upstate AHEC plans to offer these webinars again for anyone who would like to attend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To see all upcoming learning opportunities, visit the statewide South Carolina AHEC continuing professional development calendar at <a href="https://www.scahec.net/calendar.html" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.scahec.net/calendar.html</a>.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
South Carolina AHEChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08172949515533028431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-12863903409826326752020-03-19T14:22:00.001-04:002020-03-19T15:55:42.903-04:00A COVID-19 Update from Our Executive Director<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At South Carolina AHEC it is our mission to serve the state to ensure each and every community has the healthcare workforce and access it needs. In times like these, it’s even more important to support our healthcare professionals and the health workforce pipeline and, as the pandemic evolves, we are here for you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just in the past couple of days we have: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Assisted two universities in meeting requirements of their interprofessional education (IPE) curriculum by providing access to AHEC Scholars online programs<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Provided information about the Health Careers Program (HCP) modules to the SC Department of Education to list with their health sciences curriculum as they transition to online learning<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Adjusted student housing needs and protocols and assisted with relocating clinical placements while tracking new policies from many institutions<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Moved numerous live continuing professional development (CPD) events to webinars to help healthcare professionals maintain access to education towards their licensure and certifications<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we move forward, we continue to serve the state by leveraging our available technology. We have extensive online learning and webinar capabilities that are available to support our healthcare workforce. We are available to help healthcare organizations, academic institutions, traditional education programs and others to become proficient with technology and reach their students and professionals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do you need help moving your healthcare workforce programming online during the coronavirus outbreak? Are you looking for online educational resources that can be completed from home? Across the South Carolina AHEC System, even though many of us are working remotely, we remain open and fully operational to assist. Please reach out to one of our regional centers or the program office if we can help in any way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SC AHEC Executive Director<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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South Carolina AHEChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08172949515533028431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-70890658663632283462020-03-19T14:21:00.000-04:002020-03-19T15:49:29.549-04:00South Carolina AHEC Continuing Professional Development Programs<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">South Carolina AHEC supports the state’s healthcare workforce by offering educational programs to many healthcare professionals. Programs provide knowledge and updated information to healthcare professionals across multiple disciplines so they can provide the best possible care to communities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our continuing professional development programs identify the educational needs of healthcare professionals and provide programs designed to enhance clinical skills and maintain professional licensure and certifications. Programs are delivered through traditional methods and innovative technologies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In addition to in-person programs hosted throughout the state by the four regional AHEC centers, a large library of online and on-demand education is available via the South Carolina AHEC Learning Portal and AHEC U.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Especially during a pandemic, it is imperative that our healthcare workforce is able to maintain their licensure and certifications. As such, we are doing our best to maintain continuing professional development programming.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In collaboration with our instructors and our participants, in-person continuing professional development programs across the state are being transitioned to remote learning via WebEx or rescheduled if the program requires hands-on or in-person training components. This decision is being made on a program-by-program and regional basis. The regional AHEC centers will be in touch with registered participants about upcoming programs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the meantime, please check out the wealth of educational programs available online from the South Carolina AHEC System:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><a href="https://www.scahec.net/SCHOOLS/Registration/Programs.aspx" style="color: #954f72;">South Carolina AHEC Learning Portal</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><a href="https://www.ahecu.org/" style="color: #954f72;">AHEC U</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For more information about South Carolina AHEC continuing professional development opportunities, please visit our regional AHEC centers’ websites:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><a href="http://lcahec.com/" style="color: #954f72;">Lowcountry AHEC</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><a href="http://www.midcarolinaahec.org/" style="color: #954f72;">Mid-Carolina AHEC</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><a href="https://www.peedeeahec.net/default.aspx" style="color: #954f72;">Pee Dee AHEC</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><a href="https://www.upstateahec.org/" style="color: #954f72;">Upstate AHEC</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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South Carolina AHEChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08172949515533028431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-50413031802477763792020-03-19T12:09:00.003-04:002020-03-19T12:12:13.683-04:00Lowcountry AHEC Supports IV Therapy Provision with Training<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While the placement of an intravenous line in healthcare is often routine, a practice or facility’s ability to offer IV therapy to patients provides many benefits to the patient and the practice. To that end, Lowcountry AHEC offered an “Introduction to IV Therapy” continuing professional development course in January to healthcare professionals, including nurses from Methodist Oaks Retirement Community and surgical assistants from Mooresville Oral Surgery.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Taught by 2014 SC AHEC Educator of the Year Wilma Rice, MSN, RN, CEN, the course covered best practice guidelines as well as demonstrations. Participants then completed a skills demonstration to assess what they learned.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYt5LS0JF4f1TGlLNYpzbOvrzNgozh6xC9cRfpcp6Oufg6tCT3BflytK_n98zPf3ZZSBA43vijiVzDnKQIGC8wE7SwGvT9YlKEV3gnhH0TUQMHa4AqeqvgyvuaUylRYfqNRIIVOoOlN98/s1600/IVT_Methodist_Oaks_nurses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYt5LS0JF4f1TGlLNYpzbOvrzNgozh6xC9cRfpcp6Oufg6tCT3BflytK_n98zPf3ZZSBA43vijiVzDnKQIGC8wE7SwGvT9YlKEV3gnhH0TUQMHa4AqeqvgyvuaUylRYfqNRIIVOoOlN98/s320/IVT_Methodist_Oaks_nurses.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Methodist Oaks Retirement Community is a continuing care retirement community in Orangeburg that provides independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing care. The facility is planning to increase the availability of IV services for the community and will permit IV insertions, maintenance, and treatment in their rehabilitation department. Nurses from Methodist Oaks participated in the January training, as well as attended an additional IV therapy course held in December. Their goal is to have all nurses confident in the initiation as well as maintenance of an IV. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCno3_moLlKKv9R5Rk4E8aCzlum0eXEloyvPtWeWZAOIV3DJ7bSkvcX3GeAZ-yhwC4SOCUMeH3Fa55IVWpUwkDXAxJ7YE0_pouNITojYAwZPgrwL5bcwwA7Gfl7D-yAAmEwzNndcd2tHg/s1600/IVT_dental_assistants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCno3_moLlKKv9R5Rk4E8aCzlum0eXEloyvPtWeWZAOIV3DJ7bSkvcX3GeAZ-yhwC4SOCUMeH3Fa55IVWpUwkDXAxJ7YE0_pouNITojYAwZPgrwL5bcwwA7Gfl7D-yAAmEwzNndcd2tHg/s1600/IVT_dental_assistants.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mooresville Oral Surgery in North Carolina is preparing their surgical assistants to initiate IV access so the surgeon can administer moderate sedation for patients. This improves the practice’s workflow to free up additional time for consultations or post-operative assessments, as well as providing the surgeon with additional time to complete other clinical responsibilities. After the skills portion of the program, surgical assistant Amy Hecker explained what it was like learning to initiate IV access, “I’ve never been more scared, yet excited to see red!” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To learn more about Lowcountry AHEC continuing professional development programming, visit the <a href="http://lcahec.com/program-information/" target="_blank">Lowcountry AHEC website</a>.</span><br />
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South Carolina AHEChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08172949515533028431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-13502109925610968392020-03-19T12:09:00.000-04:002020-03-19T12:08:04.852-04:00Partnerships That Work for Rural<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since 2007, Mid-Carolina AHEC has been an active member of the Upper Midlands Rural Health Network (UMRHN), a 19-member consortium serving Chester, Fairfield and Lancaster counties. UMRHN members began meeting in 2004 in order to formalize their healthcare partnerships within mutual service areas. Karen Nichols, UMRHN executive director, shares that the network and region “have benefitted in a number of ways from the partnership with Mid-Carolina AHEC.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Mid-Carolina AHEC works with the UMRHN outreach committee to provide annual continuing education to school nurses and social workers in an effort to improve competencies in managing chronic conditions for school-aged children. The annual workshop provides a central location for nurses in the region to receive training on emerging topics. Particularly in underserved and under-resourced areas, school nurses play a key role in the safety and social support of children who might not receive care anywhere else. Mid-Carolina AHEC provides qualified speakers and corresponding CEU’s to the school nurses, social workers, and counselors who attend the training.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Beyond continuing professional development, Mid-Carolina AHEC supports student training as well. Working with the clinical faculty from the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) in Spartanburg, MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center, and the local Director of Student Medical Education (DSME), Mid-Carolina AHEC was instrumental in helping UMRHN develop a rural interprofessional student experience for third year medical students to observe the Care Transitions Intervention (CTI)® program. The CTI® program results in better coordination among healthcare providers and measurable improvements for the patient as they become empowered to manage their chronic health condition(s). The rural, interprofessional student experience provides an opportunity for students to better understand how social determinants of health affect patient outcomes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Amanda Fernandez, VCOM third year medical student, describes her experience, “The care transitions home visits are very beneficial to the patient’s overall care. On my visit we were able to provide information and education regarding the patient’s post-op instructions and discharge notes. We also helped the patient schedule her very first appointment with a primary care provider. I find that this will aid the healthcare system by providing assistance and education to the patients who need it most.” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Irini Guda, CTI® project director, explains that “the students’ interaction with the CTI coach and patient provides an opportunity to reinforce patient education and to follow up on health outcomes.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mid-Carolina AHEC also hosts multiple meetings at its facility including UMRHN board meetings; the Population Health Summit; Eat Smart, Move More; LIVE Healthy SC and Healthy SC meetings. Mid-Carolina AHEC director Cheri Plyler is currently serving her second term as the chair of UMRHN. Through Mid-Carolina AHEC’s involvement with UMRHN, the 18 members across the rural, three-county area are kept up-to-date with training, professional development and workforce development opportunities. As the convener and catalyst for health professions education, recruitment and retention, Mid-Carolina AHEC is proud to serve as an integral partner in these rural communities in the region. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To learn more about Mid-Carolina AHEC programming, visit the <a href="http://www.midcarolinaahec.org/" target="_blank">Mid-Carolina AHEC website</a>.</span><br />
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South Carolina AHEChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08172949515533028431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-73990280701525872002020-03-19T12:07:00.002-04:002020-03-19T12:07:47.768-04:00Pee Dee AHEC Hosts Innovative Training: Bal-A-Vis-X<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In January, more than 40 participants from seven states attended Pee Dee AHEC’s Bal-A-Vis-X two-day training. Bal-A-Vis-X is a series of exercises that improve balance, hearing, vision, and brain/body integration. It focuses on sensory integration, balance, cross body, and mid-line movements to help improve gross and fine motor skills. It can also improve attention and focus in patients and students. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bill Hubert developed and founded Bal-A-Vis-X more than 20 years ago. He travels across the United States providing trainings to occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech pathologists, counselors, social workers, athletic trainers, teachers, and more. Bill uses tools such as balance boards, sand-filled bags, and racquetballs in a series of over 300 exercises. These materials and exercises are used to promote and develop balance, rhythm, focus, and movement. Occupational therapist Angela Morph has attended this training multiple times and explained the difference it makes in her work, “I thoroughly enjoyed it and was able to learn more. I have already started using it with most of my patients again with some new techniques and already see a difference.”</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQMp5NP_zUN7-Hh06OWHE0tuf62w32Cu4VMnZmrS2Xd2cx8c8_OdwNRkUXy1LlnDfwNsSJ6yN88M0zi0XDhOnq851aEuLSQv24xucqKMNY1QWhwFUeUn4Rgg6rKhUMnX5Nm68UqMChxo/s1600/file6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQMp5NP_zUN7-Hh06OWHE0tuf62w32Cu4VMnZmrS2Xd2cx8c8_OdwNRkUXy1LlnDfwNsSJ6yN88M0zi0XDhOnq851aEuLSQv24xucqKMNY1QWhwFUeUn4Rgg6rKhUMnX5Nm68UqMChxo/s200/file6.jpeg" width="150" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bal-A-Vis-X transcends individual disciplines and its techniques can be applied with a range of ages from pediatric to geriatric populations. Michael Cillo attended the training and agrees with its wide-ranging uses, “Fantastic program! Best professional development I’ve ever attended. Practical and science proven ways to help children and adults.” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interested in learning more about Bal-A-Vis-X? Pee Dee AHEC will be hosting the two-day, 17-hour training October 16-17, 2020, in Hartsville. This is a great opportunity to learn new strategies that can be used across disciplines and for a variety of populations. Find out more on <a href="https://www.peedeeahec.net/default.aspx" target="_blank">Pee Dee AHEC’s website</a>.</span><br />
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South Carolina AHEChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08172949515533028431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-69007668452311617672020-03-19T11:56:00.003-04:002020-03-19T11:59:42.184-04:00Upstate AHEC Leverages Blended Learning in Continuing Professional Development<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Upstate AHEC is utilizing a blended education model for a portion of its continuing professional development programming to support training for health professionals. The blended/flipped classroom is beneficial because it allows flexibility and ownership in the learning process. Health professionals are able to complete much of the coursework in their own time, at their own pace, without taking time off work to attend a full day or multiple day training. The flipped classroom also encourages participants to be more accountable for the learning process and allows them to move at their own pace as needed. By blending a hands-on lab training with the lecture, participants are able to apply the skills learned in the online lecture under the in-person guidance of their instructor. This reinforces the skills learned and allows the learner to put the new knowledge into practice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Prisma Health Lila Doyle nursing home, AnMed Health Rehab, and the Greenville County Detention Center in the Upstate have partnered with Upstate AHEC to complete IV certification of their employees via the blended learning approach: the participants complete the online lecture and post-test via AHECU and then attend a 4-hour lab to practice their skills and complete their competency check-off with an Upstate AHEC instructor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“All of our LPNs must be IV certified to be able to place and maintain IVs in our facility,” explains Callie Urban, BSN, RN, CRRN, hospital educator at AnMed Health Rehabilitation Hospital, “This course provides them with the certification and skills they need to be successful with IVs. The course is also offered to our RN’s who are interested in improving their skills or that have limited experience with IV placement. Our staff that have attended the course come away with more confidence in placing and maintaining IV access. I have noticed a marked improvement in their skills and confidence after I attended the course.” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Additionally, Greenville County Schools have used the blended learning modality to train their school nurses in tracheostomy care for the children in the school system with tracheostomies. After completing the online coursework and post-test ahead of time, the school nurses completed a hands-on practice and competency check-off during their back-to-school meeting in August. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Upstate AHEC also works with Bon Secours St. Francis in Greenville to complete their medication administration and vital signs training and assessment of their outpatient staff utilizing the blended learning method. As part of the new-hire orientation week, the employees attend a 4-hour vital signs training and lab check-off at Upstate AHEC after completing the online lecture modules. The new hires then also attend either an eight-hour or four-hour medication administration lab. The length of the lab depends upon the new hire’s previous experience and training in the healthcare field. Certified Medical Assistants (CMAs), LPNs, RNs, PAs, and Nurse Practitioners attend the four-hour training while the radiology technicians, newly certified medical assistants, and unlicensed personnel attend the full eight-hour training day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bon Secours St. Francis nursing professional development coordinator Trudy Ackard, MSN, RN explained the benefits of working with Upstate AHEC for training, “The consortium collaboration provides an avenue between a community-based organization and an area healthcare system, in order to provide an evidence-based blended curriculum and training to the system’s medical group clinical staff. An added benefit is that it introduces the medical group clinical staff to AHEC’s resources and continuing education opportunities to grow both professionally and personally during their healthcare career.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To learn more about Upstate AHEC continuing professional development opportunities, please visit the <a href="https://store.upstateahec.org/" target="_blank">Upstate AHEC website</a>.</span><br />
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South Carolina AHEChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08172949515533028431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-65621180901850487132020-02-20T08:28:00.004-05:002020-02-20T08:33:57.774-05:00South Carolina AHEC Scholars Program Welcomes New Scholars <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The South Carolina AHEC Scholars Program seeks to encourage and prepare tomorrow’s health professionals to become leaders in interprofessional, transformative practice for rural and underserved areas. The program, now in its second year, recently welcomed its latest Scholars with a statewide orientation. South Carolina AHEC Health Professions Student (HPS) coordinators from all four regional centers hosted the students in-person in Charleston and Columbia as well as online, using videoconference technology to connect the groups.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">New Scholars in attendance highlighted the program’s interprofessional and inter-institutional focus: of the 18 students in attendance, they represented six professions (MD, nurse practitioner, PharmD, physical therapy, physician assistant, and social work) and two academic institutions (MUSC and UofSC).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9TBUaSEbMN31G_xHN7mCuo_8vUimq7BIYKSM5phx6q9MM1VcNPBA-zBZ28pNs7DG7NZbf5oAuM4Rh1xGHpmeSzfu6L_T4rXCjkTL65Rs3ZGKiCCcjJzNhO40YqmE2ijp6LA2ioVKpnk/s1600/Scholars+Orientation+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9TBUaSEbMN31G_xHN7mCuo_8vUimq7BIYKSM5phx6q9MM1VcNPBA-zBZ28pNs7DG7NZbf5oAuM4Rh1xGHpmeSzfu6L_T4rXCjkTL65Rs3ZGKiCCcjJzNhO40YqmE2ijp6LA2ioVKpnk/s200/Scholars+Orientation+3.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scholars were engaged and excited to be a part of the program. Katherine Olsen, a UofSC PharmD student elaborated: “I feel that the AHEC Scholars Program has been extremely influential during my time in pharmacy school. I have grown to have a further appreciation of other disciplines as well as help rural communities in South Carolina, which is one of my favorite aspects of the program!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDHkXu0hr0fGHz2juhB9AMDWB6pAb7EMr8g7edCIh4Q-X8y0JJNtSC9vb-NdwL69HA99wggF9rvUv92kM8AVhnNZ9DwthCrCncpOVDHxmbrHb6ptKXkebnG02KzWSiXwGOAh787SGGag/s1600/AHEC+Scholar+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDHkXu0hr0fGHz2juhB9AMDWB6pAb7EMr8g7edCIh4Q-X8y0JJNtSC9vb-NdwL69HA99wggF9rvUv92kM8AVhnNZ9DwthCrCncpOVDHxmbrHb6ptKXkebnG02KzWSiXwGOAh787SGGag/s200/AHEC+Scholar+1.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“We have been very pleased with our AHEC Scholars program,” explained Stephanie Flowers, Pee Dee AHEC HPS coordinator, “Our first two cohorts are a diverse, interprofessional group of students who are actively engaged in making an impact in rural primary care for our state. They have been working diligently while in the program and their energy is sure to empower them once in the field!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To learn more about the South Carolina AHEC Scholar Program, please visit <a href="https://www.scahec.net/students/ahecscholars.html" style="color: purple;">our website</a>. In addition, find out more about regional HPS programming by contacting the regional HPS coordinators via their respective websites: <a href="http://lcahec.com/program-information-3/" style="color: purple;">Emily Warren and Kimbley Stephens at Lowcountry AHEC</a>, <a href="http://www.midcarolinaahec.org/health-professions-students" style="color: purple;">Casey Cato and Julie Ghent at Mid-Carolina AHEC</a>, <a href="https://www.peedeeahec.net/hps.aspx" style="color: purple;">Lance Butler and Stephanie Flower at Pee Dee AHEC</a> and <a href="https://www.upstateahec.org/health-professions-students/" style="color: purple;">Tina Fulton at Upstate AHEC</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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South Carolina AHEChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08172949515533028431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7575854726883210103.post-49525810555456409162020-02-20T08:21:00.000-05:002020-02-20T08:33:57.769-05:00Partnering to Encourage Future Health Professionals<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyAWkAWYKck2IMkJhLyO9z6fQADlruluNBu2RFjrhPInc91HZX8gDiwsoToLDJgbEGijOxV75xPfyDB2jux7o1NNQshyUlXDzBr7tH3mng58uCdrKf6smX7i1YClO847z1xeAtDcdJn4/s1600/mchcp1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyAWkAWYKck2IMkJhLyO9z6fQADlruluNBu2RFjrhPInc91HZX8gDiwsoToLDJgbEGijOxV75xPfyDB2jux7o1NNQshyUlXDzBr7tH3mng58uCdrKf6smX7i1YClO847z1xeAtDcdJn4/s320/mchcp1.png" width="244" /></a><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mid-Carolina AHEC’s Health Careers Program (HCP) is proud to announce a continued partnership with Prisma Health Richland. Recently, Mid-Carolina AHEC HCP students had the chance to participate in a reality-based education program that introduces adolescents to the Level 1 Trauma Center through Project READY, Prisma Health Richland’s community outreach program.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lara Peck, program coordinator for Project READY, begins the session with a presentation explaining various behaviors that lead to traumatic injury. The presentation included a brief anatomy lesson of various body parts, such as the brain and spinal cord, that might be impacted in a trauma event. Students also met a presenter who experienced a traumatic injury as a child, leaving her lower body paralyzed. The presenter shared her story about her accident and experience as a patient and gave the students the opportunity to ask questions about her experience and how she lives her daily life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Later students were able to take a tour of the Prisma Health Trauma Center. Nurses met with the students, explaining various procedures and allowed students to get acquainted with the equipment used to treat injuries. After visiting the trauma bay, students were able to observe how an operating room was prepared for surgery. They concluded their tour with a visit to the morgue and then a trip to the physical therapy level where students had the chance to experience what it’s like to be a patient recovering from a trauma event. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #282c31; letter-spacing: 0.15pt; line-height: 17.12px;">“Throughout the course of this program, I was overwhelmed with many emotions,” explained HCP student Selby A.. “Participating in Project READY gave me a great sense of accomplishment. I have numerous goals that I want to achieve before college and programs that introduce various careers is a wonderful opportunity.</span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">”<span style="color: #282c31; letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">The 2019-2020 Health Careers Program students and Mid-Carolina AHEC would like to extend gratitude to the Prisma Health Richland Project READY coordinator and medical staff for their dedication to community outreach and student education. </span><a href="http://www.midcarolinaahec.org/health-careers-program" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="line-height: 17.12px;">Find out more about Mid-Carolina AHEC’s Health Careers Program online</span></a></span><span style="line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
South Carolina AHEChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08172949515533028431noreply@blogger.com0