Thursday, August 11, 2022
8/11/2022
Project Title: The UNE PCTE-Rural PA Program Applicant: University of New England Address: 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, ME 04005 Project Director: Dennis Brown, DrPH, MPH, PA-C, DFAAPA Tel: 207-221-4530; Fax: 207-602-5927 Email: dbrown31@une.edu Website: www.une.edu Amt. Requested: Total: $1,492,754. [Y1 $296,917; Y2 $298,542; Y3 $299,331; Y4 $297,971; Y5 $299,993] Overview: The UNE Physician Assistant Masters (MSPA) Program will lead the proposed UNE PCTE-Rural PA Program, in partnership with a number of external organizations and UNE-based partners. External Partners include provider organizations with multiple rural-based primary care training sites, single site providers, and professional associations with statewide reach to rural-based providers. Among these are: (1) Maine Primary Care Association; (2) Maine Rural Health Collaborative; (3) HealthReach; (4) Tribal nations provider sites; (5) two large integrated health systems; and others. Internal Partners include the UNE-based Maine Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Network, and three UNE centers for excellence: Center for Excellence in Public Health; Center for Excellence in Collaborative Education, and; Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. The program includes didactic and experiential learning, in two six-week clinical rotations under the management of site-based preceptors. It also includes innovative components, among them ECHO-based trainings for preceptors, and introduction to precepting for PA students to encourage them to become preceptors post-graduation. Number of PA trainees per class: Over the five-year funding period, the program will train ap-proximately 54 PA students (8-12 annually). Number of PA trainees toNumber of PA trainees per class: Over the five-year funding period, the program will train approx-imately 54 PA students (8-12 annually). Number of PA trainees to complete the clinical rotations annually: All will be expected to com-plete two 6 -week clinical rotations (8-12 annually). Measurable objectives are: By June 30, 2027, improve knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and skills re-lated to the health needs of rural populations among 54 Physician Assistant students (8-12 each year); Support students in their learning; Throughout the PCTE-PAR grant period, students placed in rural primary care sites will be supported with mentorship, peer support, and financially; Sustain student learning activities beyond the grant; After the conclusion of the grant period, the educational activities, initiatives and other materials will continue to be used as we engage students to practice in rural primary care; By June 30, 2027, improve knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and skills related to mentoring students on the health needs of rural populations among preceptors participating in the program; Prepare sites to support preceptor learning; Sustain preceptor activities beyond the grant; Track program process and workplan activities, timeline, outputs and deliverables; Track KABS and practice among PA students and preceptors; Track retention of PAs;, and; Disseminate find-ings widely. Clinical priorities: Many of the program’s primary care clinical sites are integrated with behavioral health care. How project will be accomplished: Our overall approach is to build on lessons learned from our PCTE initiative: MaineCares: A Partnership for Primary Care Education, during which a wide range of health professions students (including PA students), and practicing professionals, were trained in a variety of primary care and population health competencies using an interprofessional approach at the state’s largest FQHC. Adapting valuable tools and knowledge gained, the new program will focus solely on training PA students to the health needs of rural, underserved popula-tions, and working within interprofessional teams to address these needs. Funding priority statement: We are requesting funding preference under qualification #1: high MUC placement rate.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
